Anymore info on your solo buddy in the mud? looks like he was pretty lightweight...

Arnaud, French guy on the Yamaha 250. His bike was too underpowered, and he had only quickly rigged up a luggage system at the last minute, so it all sat very high.

His case is a bit unique ... he lives half the time in Siberia and he keeps his bikes in Siberia, so did not have to take too much stuff, or travel too far to get there. He travelled very light, but think he needed more power and the luggage sitting lower down.